Turning the Compost and Making Paper Pots

This week, we felt a hint of spring! On Wednesday it was pretty cold, so we stayed in the shed and started to make pots out of recycled paper. We used two new pot makers - ones we acquired from the Royal Horticultural Society by completing level 1 of their Campaign for School Gardening. We shall gradually build up a supply of pots ready for our spring sowing. It is tempting to start sowing seeds on the first sunny day, but last year some seedlings went leggy as we started too early! So we must try and time things better this year.

On Thursday, it felt warmer in the garden, so we tested out our new compost turners. You can see "before"... ...and "after" pictures here. In fact, the compost is breaking down fantastically - containing a good mix of kitchen waste, shredded paper, bark, grass cuttings and cardboard. There were lots of stripey worms in there - not Charlotte's favourite, but essential to make lovely compost for the garden! Believe it or not, this bin was full to the brim before the Christmas Holidays, so you can see how it has rotted down. (The fresh waste was added this week).

Whilst this was going on, Catriona and Lewis were tidying the shed. We also dug up more brussel sprouts - still edible on their stalks despite all the snow and cold! Again, you can see a "before"... ...and "after" shot here.

A Wintry New Year

This week we returned to school. It has been very snowy and icy all week with torrential rain coming in on Thursday and Friday!

We have signed up to participate in the RSPB "big bird watch" at the end of the month (if interested see their web site at www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch ). Despite us not seeing any birds yet, all our fat balls have been eaten over the holidays. The seeds all went, but the nuts were still there. We want to encourage the birds, and get them used to feeding in the garden, so this week we put more fat balls out and made fresh ones to set for next week.
They contain seeds, porridge oats and melted lard. This time around, we didn't put holes in the pots, but tied washers onto the string to help it stay down whilst the mixture was poured.

Cutting the pots off the previously made fat balls ready to hang them out.